“Strive for Early Establishment of Cooperative Self Defense System”

President Roh Moo-hyun convened a security-related minister level meeting

on Thursday morning at Cheong Wa Dae and gave orders, saying, “Since the readjustment of the U.S. brigade stationed in Korea has already been an anticipated issue, please deal with it in a subdued manner and examine the measures needed for building an early establishment of a ‘cooperative self defense system’.”

President Roh also urged them to “explain to the people fully that the readjustment of U.S. troops in Korea is being initiated under close cooperation with the U.S. and that the government is trying to come up with countermeasures so, in that way, they would not feel insecure.” This indicates that he is willing to comply with the agreement on the readjustment of U.S. troops in Korea followed by United States’ pursuit of the Global Defense Posture Review (GRP).

President Roh continued by asking them to “strive for fundamental improvement of the security environment of the Korean peninsula by boosting more efforts on the actual progress of the North’s nuclear issues and on easing military tension between the two Koreas,” and emphasized the government will not spare any effort to bring progress to the inter-Korean general-level meeting and operation of Gaeseong industrial complex within this year.

A high government official who participated in the meeting this day said, “We have consented on pursuing a system of consulting in advance with the U.S. if the U.S. troops will be pulled out of Korea and on corresponding readily in case the U.S. requests for an agreement in accordance with the GPR,” and added, “Since 3,600 U.S. troops who will be sent to Iraq are reserved troops with no districts assigned, conclusions have been made that there will be no vacuum in the security.”

The Unification Ministry reported in this day’s meeting, holding an explanatory meeting on the security issue targeting foreign investors as its audience.

Jung-Hun Kim jnghn@donga.com